Budi

The rejection of the smart society in Harrison Bergeron Short Stories By

Kurt Vonnegut

Muhammad Budi Mulyono

1410731001

Lectured By:

Gindho Rizano S.Hum,M.Hum

English Department - Faculty of Humanities

Andalas University

Padang 2017
 Budi

Muhammad Budi Mulyono

Gindho Rizano S.Hum,M.Hum

Prose

28 September 2017

The rejection of the smart society in Harrison Bergeron Short Stories By Kurt
Vonnegut

Harrison Bergeron short stories who published in October,1961 by using Science

Fiction. This story written by Kurt Vonnegut, he wrote this to say us that the
equality issue can have negative impacts on peoples individuality and the society.
One of the themes of Harrison Bergeron be object to weak people who have
more knowledge that ban by government.

Harrison Bergeron short stories telling the main character that the prossesses an
intelligence. The intelligence of each person must be handicapped yet the ability of
their had not been lost. Base on the story, a struggle with the people in the society
who are smarter think about there own for a short while to only come and find
themselves lost. Vonnegut warning to us through the main character have conflict
against government that makes the entire society is equal with handicapping the
more gifted become down to the level of the less fortunate or incapable. Harrison
Bergeron also tell us the weak of people can overthrow the strong of people, I mean
weak people and strong people is society in close Harrison and government.

Harrison action in story repeats government errors by establishing himself as the

sole. That act, force the weak people to break the law by making them remove their
government imposed handicaps(Schatt,Stanley P.119)
 Budi

The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They werent only
equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was
smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody
was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the
Amandments to the constitution,and vigilance of agents of the United States
Handicapper general (Vonnegut 234).

In this way , everyone above average in any way has been forced by the
government to bear a physical handicap that makes them normal. People who are
more intelligent or knowledge that the average person have the knowledge
subverted by devices as the mental handicap ear radio. It means government ask the
employee to execute successfully a ear radio handicap in which 20 seconds buzzed
loudly. Employee as a tool for government. Vonnegut suggest an authoritarian
government thrives on the rejection of the people has smart intelligence and
knowledge.

The struggle of people illustrates by Harrison recognizes the inequality of forcing

strong people to give up their strength for an orderly society of equal,law abiding
citizens. This story gives us to show that strength can be used to oppress the
weak,even in the name of protecting the weak against the excesses of the strong.

All humans can never truly be equal, be able to express and grasp feelings, and
convey their own personal uniqueness. It was proved in this perfect society where
everyone was to be equal and it was proved incorrect. Knowledge will lead us to
the opportunity to make a difference. So dont nver underestimate knowledge.
Government have knowledge ,so also with his people.
 Budi

Bibliography

Vonnegurt, Kurt. Harrison Bergeron. Literature : An Introduction to Fiction

,Poetry,and Drama Eight Edition. New York: Long Man ,2002,P.234.

Schatt,Stanley,The Short Stories of Harrison Bergeron in Kurt

Vonnegut,Jr.,Boston: Twayne,1976,P.119